And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
2 CHRONICLES 16:12KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 16:12 mean?
2 Chronicles 16:12 describes how King Asa, after ruling for thirty-nine years, developed a severe disease in his feet. Even as his illness grew worse, Asa did not seek help from the LORD but turned only to physicians for treatment.
The verse is part of a historical account about Asa, king of Judah. It highlights a turning point near the end of Asa’s reign, showing his choice to rely on human help instead of seeking God’s guidance or healing. The Chronicler, who is telling the story, uses this detail to show a shift in Asa’s trust and priorities during his final years.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 16:12
- "Sought" (דָּרַשׁ, darash): This word often means to inquire or seek out, especially in a spiritual sense. The verse uses it to contrast Asa’s actions—he did not "seek" the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH), but instead "sought" the physicians (רָפֵא, raphe). The repetition emphasizes where Asa placed his trust.
- "Physicians" (רָפֵא, raphe): In the ancient context, physicians were not always seen as separate from religious or spiritual practice. The verse draws a line between seeking God and seeking human help, making Asa’s choice more pointed.
Why 2 Chronicles 16:12 matters
- The verse clarifies that Asa’s problem was not seeking medical help itself, but neglecting to seek God at all, even in desperate circumstances.
- It connects to the wider passage, which describes Asa’s earlier faithfulness and later decline, showing how his relationship with God changed over time.
- The detail about Asa’s disease and response highlights a theme in Chronicles: the importance of seeking God first, especially in times of trouble.